Children’s Theatre Company is one of few professional regional theatres to employ a full-time professional resident acting company. CTC’s accomplished acting company is comprised of Gerald Drake, Dean Holt, Autumn Ness, Reed Sigmund and Traci Allen Shannon.

CTC acting company members, all members of Actors Equity Association, were hand-selected for their talent and versatility and are cast in CTC productions throughout the season. Learn more about each actor below!

Dean Holt

Gerald Drake

Autumn Ness

Reed Sigmund

Traci Allen Shannon

DEAN HOLT has been a part of CTC’s Resident Acting Company since 1994. In this time he has appeared in nearly 100 productions and collaborated with an amazing array of talented artists both onstage and off. Highlights in his time include exploring the silent-movie world of Buster Keaton in REELING, tearing up the stage in IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE (a mess-filled, laugh-inducing riot), and donning a dress as the most beautiful wicked step-sister Pearl in CTC’s completely unique take on CINDERELLA (which is some of the most fun to be had by actor and audience alike). Other memorable shows have been HUCK FINN, ROMEO AND JULIET, MISSISSIPPI PANORAMA, A SCARECROW AND HIS SERVANT, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, and 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA. Dean is the recipient of two Ivey Awards (for his work in REELING and IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE) and the Alumni Achievement Award from St. John’s University for work in his field. He appreciates most the level of imagination that CTC’s young audience members bring with them and their willingness to jump into every story’s adventure. He is married to CTC Stage Manager Stacy McIntosh and has two sons.

GERALD DRAKE has been a member of CTC's acting company for 45 years. Among his favorite roles are the Stepmother in early productions of Cinderella, Long John Silver in Treasure Island, Fagan in Oliver Twist, Mr. Toad in Wind in the Willows Afar in A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings, and Lord Capulet in Romeo & Juliet. Gerald has toured to and performed in Munich, Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Moscow. He is the recipient of a McKnight Theatre Artist Fellowship. Married 49 years to his wife Kathie, they have two daughters, Kelly and Kristina, and he lives out his drumming fantasy by watching his son Bobby play in Ageist. He is thrilled to welcome a new audience member to CTC, his grandson Victor Leo, who has already seen several productions and has a costume closet of his own creations.

AUTUMN NESS first performed on the CTC stage at eight years old in a production of Hansel and Gretel, and she was hooked! As a grown up, Autumn has been a member of the CTC acting company for 18 seasons. Her favorite things about being a CTC actor are creating new works, getting to meet and talk with CTC audience members, and making shows with her fellow Acting Company members! A few favorite roles include Bagherra in The Jungle Book, Fiona in Shrek the Musical, Mrs Darling in Peter Pan, Betsy Bear in Busytown, The Stepmother in Cinderella, The Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, The Biggest Little House in the Forest, Mrs. Cobb in Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Mrs. Whatsit in A Wrinkle in Time, Lily St. Regis in Annie, Mother in A Christmas Story, Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, White Witch in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, A Year With Frog and Toad, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle in The Magic Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, Mayzie in Seussical the Musical, Glinda in The Wizard of Oz, Paulette in PROM, and Tinkles in Mississippi Panorama. Autumn is married to company actor Reed Sigmund, and they have two little boys and a pug. Thank you for supporting CTC!

REED SIGMUND is currently celebrating his 18th season at CTC and has appeared in numerous productions, including: The Wizard of Oz, HONK!, The Magic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Disney's Aladdin Jr., The BFG, Seussical, A Year with Frog and Toad, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Romeo & Juliet,Bert and Ernie, Goodnight!,Cinderella, Robin Hood, Babe, the Sheep-Pig, Annie,Mercy Watson to the Rescue!, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Alice in Wonderland, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Shrek the Musical, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Pinocchio. When not performing on the CTC stage, Reed and his darling wife Autumn can be found frolicking with their three little gentlemen: Sawyer, Sullivan and Kermit.

TRACI ALLEN SHANNON is thrilled to be returning to Children's Theatre Company as an acting company member. Originally from North Carolina, CTC has been a home away from home for Traci since she first came to Minneapolis as a Performing Apprentice for the theatre. Her favorite CTC credits include Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Five Fingers of Funk,Bud, Not Buddy and Fashion 47. Traci has had the wonderful opportunity to appear at a number of theatres around the Twin Cities including Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Penumbra Theatre, The Playwrights' Center, Pillsbury House, Park Square Theatre and Theater Latte Da. Outside of Minnesota, Traci's work has been seen at theatres in Chicago, Washington DC, and in the national tour of The Color Purple. Traci is a graduate of Howard University and credits the wonderfulness of her life to the faith and love that has been passed down to her through many generations of a loving family, at the center of which stands her awesome and amazing husband. Peace and blessings to all!

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